Vehicle servicing and monitoring method and system

ABSTRACT

A method and system for servicing a vehicle in accordance with pre-determined maintenance settings is provided. Maintenance settings can be communicated to a vehicle maintenance tool via a communication device and the vehicle maintenance tool can interact with the vehicle in accordance with the maintenance settings.

This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 14/616,469, filedFeb. 6, 2015

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for providingmaintenance to a vehicle using vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings, vehicle identifying information, a communication device and avehicle maintenance tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles, including but not limited to semi-trailers, eighteen wheelers,big rigs, tractor-trailers and the like, require periodic maintenance toremain in operation. For example, such vehicles require periodicinflation or replacement of their tires and periodic replacement ofother parts including headlights, wiper blades and the like. Keepingtrack of the maintenance required by vehicles and performing suchmaintenance requires time and expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a system that allows for the capture ofdata related to the current air pressure of a tire and the correction ofthe air pressure of the tire using automatic tire measuring and tireinflation equipment for use at a tire inspection lane at an on-highwayretail facility.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system comprising adatabase containing vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings, vehicleidentifying information and a communication device. The communicationdevice can be configured to receive the vehicle identifying informationand obtain the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings through anelectronic network. The system can further comprise a tire inflationunit, wherein said tire inflation unit is configured to communicate withsaid communication device and interact with said vehicle in accordancewith said vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides placing a fuelpump close enough to a tire inflation unit, as part of a fueling lane,so as to allow the fuel pump to provide fuel to a vehicle while the tireinflation unit is interacting with the tires. Additionally, the fuelpump can provide diesel fuel.

The present vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings can comprisetire pressure preferences. In a further embodiment, the tire inflationunit is configured to measure the pressure of a tire. In an additionalembodiment, the tire inflation unit interacts with a vehicle byinflating a tire to a pressure indicated by the pressure preferences. Inan added embodiment, the tire inflation unit is configured to measurethe pressure of a tire and inflate the tire simultaneously. In anadditional embodiment, the tire inflation unit is configured tocommunicate the pressure of the tire to the communication device.

In another provided embodiment, the vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings comprise tread depth preferences. In an even furtherembodiment, the vehicle maintenance tool is a tread depth gauge. Inanother embodiment, the tread depth tool interacts with a vehicle byindicating whether a tire has a minimum tread depth as indicated by thetread depth preferences. In another embodiment, the tread depth tool isconfigured to communicate a tread depth of the tire to the communicationdevice.

The present disclosure also provides a method that allows for thecapture of data related to the current air pressure of a tire andcorrection of the air pressure of the tire using automatic tiremeasuring and tire inflation equipment for use at a tire inspection laneat an on-highway retail facility.

In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a vehicle,associating vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings with the vehicleand servicing a tire in accordance with said vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings. In another embodiment, the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings include tire pressure preferences. In a furtherembodiment, the method includes inflating a tire in accordance with thetire pressure preferences. In an even further embodiment, the methodcomprises measuring the tire pressure as the tire is being inflated. Inan additional embodiment, the vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings include tread depth preferences. In an added embodiment, themethod includes recording a tread depth of a tire. In an addedembodiment, the maintenance performed on the vehicle includes replacingthe tire in accordance with the tread depth preferences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of possible interactionsbetween various components of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication devicethat can be used in connection with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tire inflation unitthat can be used in connection with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is diagram illustrating an example of a tread depth tool that canbe used in connection with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless pressure stickthat can be used in connection with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of several tire inflationunits interacting with a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a system and method that allows for thecapture of data related to the current air pressure and the correctionof air pressure of a tire using automatic tire measuring and tireinflation equipment for use at a tire inspection lane at an on-highwayretail facility.

Turning to FIG. 1, an example of how components comprising the presentdisclosure can interact is provided. Vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings 126 can comprise digital information and can be stored in anysuitable location. For example, vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings 126 can exist as digital information stored in a database. Asused herein, a database is organized information stored in or on amedium. Such mediums can include a document, a computer, a server, anelectronic network such as a cloud network, compact disc, magnetic tapeor the like.

Additionally, the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 can becapable of interacting with an electronic network 125. For example, ifthe vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 exist as digitalinformation on a computer, then the computer can be capable ofinteracting with the internet or cellular networks.

As used herein, an electronic network 125 can be a system capable oftransmitting information including vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings 126. For example, an electronic network 125 can include a localarea network, a cellular network, the internet or a combination thereof.By interacting with one or more electronic networks with which thevehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 can also interact, thecommunication device 20 can obtain the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126. For example, the communication device 20 canretrieve the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 over theinternet or a cellular network. In this way, the communication device 20can obtain the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 at avariety of locations and associate the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 with a particular vehicle 120.

Vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 store information abouthow the owners, operators or drivers of a vehicle 120 would like theirvehicle 120 to be maintained. Vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings 126 can relate to any maintenance that can be required by avehicle 120. For example, vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings126 can specify the frequency with which oil changes should beperformed, the frequency with which wiper blades are to be replaced, thefrequency with which tires are to be replaced and the like.Additionally, vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 canspecify whether reusable components like headlights, wiper blades andthe like are to be replaced when a visual or other inspection indicatesthat the component is worn out. The vehicle 120 can be a tractor or atrailer. A system capable of servicing tractors or trailers will allowowners or drivers of such vehicles to obtain information about theirvehicles in situations where one party owns the tractor of the vehicle120 and another party owns the trailer of the vehicle 120.

For further example, the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126can include tire pressure preferences. Tire pressure preferences includeinformation about the desired pressure of tires used in connection withthe vehicle 120. For example, tire pressure preferences can include theminimum pressure of the tire, the maximum pressure of the tire and theoptimal pressure of the tire. For additional example, the maintenancesettings can include tread depth preferences. Tread depth preferencescan include information about the desired tread depth of tires. Forexample, tread depth preferences can specify the minimum amount of treadon a tire indicating that a tire should be replaced.

The vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 can be associatedwith a particular vehicle 120 or a group of vehicles. Stated anotherway, any given vehicle 120 can have one or more associated vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126. For example, a particularentity can have a plurality of vehicles, each having individual vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126 or the entity could specifyuniform vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 for all or someof the vehicles. For example, the vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings 126 could specify that each vehicle 120 in a group of vehiclesshould have their tires inflated to 100 psi or the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126 could specify that some vehiclesshould have their tires inflated to 105 psi and others 95 psi. Thevehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 of a particular vehicle120 are associated with the particular vehicle 120 using vehicleidentifying information 121. For example, if the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 are stored as digital data, then vehicleidentifying information 121 can be associated with the appropriatevehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126. In this way, vehicleidentification information 121 can identify specific vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126.

Vehicle identifying information 121 can include a variety of mechanismsfor identifying a particular vehicle 120. For example, vehicleidentifying information 121 can include the VIN of a vehicle 120, thelicense plate of the vehicle 120 or can be provided to a customer orvehicle 120 specifically for use with the present disclosure. Forexample, the provider of services under the present disclosure canprovide a scannable bar code or radio frequency identifier to a vehicle120. Regardless of the type of vehicle identification information 121used, the purpose of such vehicle identification information 121 is toassociate a specific vehicle 120 with its associated vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126.

The vehicle identifying information 121 is associated with themaintenance settings for a given vehicle 120 using a communicationdevice 20. A communication device 20 can be an electronic device capableof sending and receiving electronic information. For example, thecommunication device can take the form of a personal digital assistant,a tablet, a cellular phone, a laptop or the like. The communicationdevice 20 can be configured to receive the vehicle identifyinginformation 121. The proper configuration for the communication device20 can depend on the form of the vehicle identifying information 121.For example, if the vehicle identifying information 121 comprises ascannable bar code, then the communication device 20 can include acomponent or attachment capable of scanning barcodes. Similarly, if thevehicle identifying information 121 is a VIN, the communication device20 could include a data input similar to a keyboard. The communicationdevice 20 can also interact with an electronic network 125. For example,the communication device 20 can interact with an electronic network 125to access the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126.

Once the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 have beenassociated with a particular vehicle 120 using the vehicleidentification settings 121, the communication device 20 can communicateeither the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 or commandsrelated to the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 to one ormore vehicle maintenance tools. Optionally, the vehicle identificationsettings 121 can be associated with the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 on the customer's first visit. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle maintenance tools comprise atread depth tool 35 and the tire inflation unit 5. However, any toolcapable of use in maintaining a vehicle 120 can act as a vehiclemaintenance tool.

The vehicle maintenance tools can communicate, electronically orotherwise, with the communication device 20 to receive the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126 or commands related to suchvehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126. The various vehiclemaintenance tools are also configured to interact with the vehicle 120in accordance with the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126.Examples are provided in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Because each of the vehiclemaintenance tools obtains vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings126 through communication device 20, an embodiment of the communicationdevice 20 is provided first.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure is also adapted to storeinformation related to the pressure and tread depth of a tire. Forexample, the tread depth of a tire, the air pressure of the tire, andinformation obtained from visual inspection of a tire can be input intocommunication device 20. Communication device 20 can then communicatesuch information to any suitable location, including a database. In someembodiments, such information can be accessed by the provider of thesystem and method provided in the present disclosure. Additionally, insome embodiments such information can be accessed by the owner or driverof a vehicle 120 that is serviced in connection with the presentdisclosure. For example, the provider of services described in thepresent disclosure can allow the owner or driver of the vehicle 120 toaccess information about one or more vehicles by logging into a websiteor through a mobile application.

Turning to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a communication device 20 isprovided. As discussed, the communication device 20 is capable of avariety of embodiments. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, thecommunication device 20 comprises at least a display 25 and a data input30. The display 25 is adapted to display any information capable of usein connection with the present disclosure. For example, the display 25can display all or certain aspects of the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 or all or part of the information being sentfrom the vehicle maintenance tools to the communication device 20. Thedata input 30 can also have a variety of forms. In one embodiment, thedata input 30 is similar to a keyboard. However, the data input 30 canhave any suitable form including a touchpad or a scanning device thatcan depend in part on the type of vehicle identifying information 121used with the present disclosure. As discussed, the communication device20 can be adapted to interact with and communicate through an electronicnetwork 125.

Having received the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126, thecommunication device 20 communicates such vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 to one or more vehicle maintenance tools. Forexample, the communication device 20 can communicate the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126 to a vehicle maintenance toolusing Bluetooth® technology, wireless networks, the Internet, cellularnetworks or the like.

As discussed, in one embodiment of the present disclosure vehiclemaintenance tools include a tire inflation unit 5, a tread depth tool 35or both. Once one or more vehicle maintenance tools receives vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126 or commands related to suchsettings, the vehicle maintenance tool can interact with a vehicle 120in accordance with the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126.Examples of specific vehicle maintenance tools interacting with avehicle 120 are provided below.

Turning to FIG. 3, the vehicle maintenance tool 35 can be a tireinflation unit 5. As discussed, the tire inflation unit can beconfigured to communicate electronically with the communication device20 and receive relevant vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126.For example, a tire inflation unit 5 can receive vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 that relate to minimum, maximum and preferredtire pressures for an individual vehicle 120 or for a vehicle as part ofa fleet of vehicles.

The tire inflation unit 5 can comprise one or more tire inflation hoses10 and a pressure display 15. The tire inflation hoses 10 along with thetire inflation unit 5 can be configured to inflate one or more tires ona vehicle. For example, a tire inflation hose 10 can be adapted toattach to a tire stem and convey pressurized gas from the tire inflationunit 5 to the tire. The tire inflation unit 5 can be attached to asource of pressurized gas which can be conveyed from the source to thetires. Thus, the tire inflation unit 5 can adjust the pressure of a tireto match the desired pressure indicated by the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126.

Additionally, the tire inflation unit 5 can measure the pressure of atire. The tire inflation unit 5 can measure the pressure of a tirebefore pressurizing the tire, as the tire is being pressurized and afterthe tire has been pressurized. Additionally, the tire inflation unit 5can measure the pressure of one or more tires simultaneously andpressurize one or more tires simultaneously. By choosing the appropriatenumber of tire inflation units present at a given location, the operatorof the system described in the present description can measure andinflate any number of tires simultaneously as desired.

In this way, the tire inflation unit 5 can automatically pressurize atire to the pressure indicated by the vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings 126 without the need to iteratively adjust the tire pressureand measure the tire pressure. For example, if the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126 indicate that the desiredpressure of the tire is 100 psi but the tire is currently at 80 psi, thetire inflation unit 5 can pressurize the tire while measuring thepressure of the tire. The tire inflation unit 5 can then either stoppressurizing the tire when the tire reaches 100 psi or can stop the flowof gas to the tire as the tire approaches 100 psi. In some embodiments,the tire inflation unit 20 can send the measured pressure information ofthe tires to the communication device 20 or through an electronicnetwork to any desired location. The tire inflation unit 5 can also sendthe measured pressure information of the tires to the communicationdevice 20 as the tire inflates at periodic intervals.

In some embodiments, the system can include advising the driver of thevehicle, the owner of the vehicle or an operator using the presentlydescribed system that tire pressure in a tire is too low, or below athreshold indicated in the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings126. Upon determining that the pressure in a tire is below somethreshold indicated in the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings126, the system can advise that the tire be replaced or inspected.

Additionally, an operator using the presently described system canconduct visual inspections of the tires and replace the tires as neededor in accordance with preferences indicated in the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126. In some embodiments, the visualinspection of the tires can be input into the communication device 20.The communication device 20 can then communicate the visual inspectionto a database. For example, the database can be the same database thatstores the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 or can beanother database altogether.

Turning to FIG. 4, another example of a vehicle maintenance tool isprovided. For example, a tread depth tool 35 can be used in connectionwith the present system and method. Similar to the tire inflation unit5, the tread depth tool can be configured to communicate electronicallywith the communication device 20. As such, the tread depth tool 35 canreceive vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 related to treaddepth. For example, the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126can provide a minimum tread depth for a tire wherein if the tread depthis below the minimum tread depth the tire should be replaced.

The tread depth tool 35 can comprise an elongated member 40 and adisplay 45. The elongated member 40 can be inserted into a tread groove.The tread depth tool 35 can then be pressed against the tire and theelongated member 40 can retract into the body of the tread depth tool35. By measuring the extent to which the elongated member 40 is pressedinto the body of the tread depth tool 35, the tread depth tool 35 cancalculate the tread depth of the tire. For example, the more worn outthe tread, the greater the extent to which the elongated member 40retracts into the body of the tread depth tool 35. For example, if thetread depth tool 35 indicates that the tread depth of a tire is belowthe minimum tread indicated in the tread depth preferences, then thetire can be replaced.

The display 45 can either display an aspect of the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings 126, the measured tread depth or anyother information. In some embodiments, the tread depth tool 35 cantransmit information to and receive information from a communicationdevice 20. For example, not only can the tread depth tool 35 receivevehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 related to tread depthbut it can also send the measured tread depth to the communicationdevice 20 or to an electronic network 125. In some embodiments, thetread depth tool 35 does not need to receive vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126. For example, if the tread depth tool 35measures the tread of a tire and sends the tread depth information tothe communication device 20, the communication device 20 can determinewhether the tire was in conformity with the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings 126 without the need for the tread depth tool 35 toreceive the maintenance settings.

Turning to FIG. 5, another example of a vehicle maintenance tool isprovided. For example a wireless pressure stick 50 can be used inconnection with the present method and system. The wireless pressurestick 50 can send or receive information from the communication device20. For example, the wireless pressure stick can be adapted to receivevehicle pre-determined maintenance settings 126 from the communicationdevice 20, send pressure information from a tire to the communicationdevice 20, or both. For example, the wireless pressure stick 50 isadapted to interact with a tire and measure its pressure. For example,the wireless pressure stick 50 can interact with a tire stem andelectronically send the measured pressure of the tire to thecommunication device 20.

Although specific examples of vehicles' maintenance tools have beenprovided, any suitable tool can be used in connection with the presentmethod and system. Such vehicle maintenance tools can be either adaptedto receive maintenance settings, electronically communicate someinformation to the communication device 20 or both. The vehiclemaintenance tools can be adapted to send and receive information eitherwired or wirelessly.

Turning to FIG. 6, an example of tire inflation units 5 interacting witha vehicle 120 in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. Inthe embodiment shown, several tire inflation units 5 comprise four tireinflation hoses 10 and several include a single tire inflation hose 10.The tire inflation unit 5 can comprise any number of tire inflationhoses 10. In the embodiment shown, enough tire inflation units 5 havingtire inflation hoses 10 are provided to simultaneously inflate all thetires of a vehicle 120 having eighteen wheels. For example, in theembodiment shown in FIG. 6, the tire inflation hoses can simultaneouslyinflate and measure the pressure of each of the eighteen wheels.

The present disclosure also provides a fuel pump 11. The fuel pump 11can be any suitable pump used for fueling vehicles, especially eighteenwheelers, big rigs and the like. The fuel pump 11 can be positionedclose enough to a tire inflation unit 5 so as to allow both the tireinflation unit 5 to inflate the tires of said vehicle 120 and the fuelpump 11 to provide fuel to the vehicle 120 at the same time. Both thefuel pump 11 and the tire inflation unit 5 can be positioned as part ofor adjacent to a fueling lane 12. As such, drivers of vehicles can havetheir tires inflated and their vehicles fueled simultaneously.

The present disclosure also provides a method for servicing vehicles.For example, the method can include identifying a vehicle. In oneembodiment of the present disclosure, identifying a vehicle can beperformed using a communication device. For example, a communicationdevice 20 can identify a vehicle by using vehicle identifyinginformation. For example, such vehicle identifying information can bethe VIN of the vehicle, a provided barcode or a radio frequencyidentifier.

Additionally, the method includes associating with the vehicle thevehicle pre-determined maintenance settings of the vehicle. For example,the method can associate the vehicle pre-determined maintenance settingsof the vehicle with the particular vehicle in question by using thevehicle identification information. The vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings can include any information related to performingmaintenance on a vehicle. For example, the vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings can include optimal tire pressure and the minimumtread depth of tires on the vehicle.

Finally, the disclosed method can include providing maintenance to thevehicle in accordance with the vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings associated with the vehicle. For example, if the disclosedmethod includes an optimal tire pressure for the tires of a particularvehicle, a tire inflation unit can automatically inflate the tires ofthe vehicle to the optimal pressure indicated by the vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method that allows for the capture of datarelated to the current air pressure of a tire and the correction of saidair pressure using automatic tire measuring and tire inflation equipmentfor use at a tire inspection lane at an on-highway retail facility,comprising: a. identifying a vehicle by receiving vehicle identifyinginformation from a vehicle, wherein said vehicle identifying informationis received in a communication device; b. associating vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings with said vehicle; c. receiving saidvehicle pre-determined maintenance settings through an electronicnetwork, wherein said vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings arereceived based on said vehicle identifying information received; d.performing maintenance on said vehicle based on said vehiclepre-determined maintenance settings, wherein said maintenance isperformed by a maintenance tool; e. interacting said maintenance toolwith said vehicle and said communication device during the performanceof maintenance so that the maintenance tool receives said pre-determinedmaintenance setting, interacts with the vehicle in accordance with thepre-determined maintenance settings and sends information on themaintenance to the communication device, and wherein maintenanceincludes correction of said air pressure of said tire, and saidinteraction includes measurement of the air pressure during saidcorrection of said air pressure and transmittal of said measurement tosaid communication device; and (f) updating a database with saidinformation on the maintenance sent to the communications device.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said step of performing maintenance includescorrection of said air pressure of said tire in accordance with saidvehicle pre-determined maintenance settings and said method furthercomprises positioning a fuel pump so as to allow said fuel pump to pumpfuel into said vehicle at the same time said tire of said vehicle isbeing inflated.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said fuel is dieselfuel.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings include tire pressure preferences.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein said step of performing maintenance includes inflatinga tire in accordance with said vehicle pre-determined maintenancesettings.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising recording saidtire pressure of said tire either before or while said tire is beinginflated.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle pre-determinedmaintenance settings include tread depth preferences.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising recording a tread depth of a tire.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein said maintenance includes replacing said tirein accordance with said tread depth preferences.
 10. The method of claim1, wherein said vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings include dataon tire pressure and include data on one or more of maintenance,condition or replacement of vehicle equipment.
 11. The method of claim10, further comprising inflating a plurality of tires simultaneously.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of inflating a plurality oftires simultaneously comprises engaging a first tire inflation unit withat least one tire on a first side of said vehicle and engaging a secondtire inflation unit with at least one tire on a second side of saidvehicle such that said first tire inflation unit and said second tireinflation unit measure pressure and pressurize said at least one tire onsaid first side and said at least one tire on said second sidesimultaneously.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first tireinflation unit is configured to interact with a first plurality of tireson said first side and said second tire inflation unit is configured tointeract with a second plurality of tires on said second side such thatthe plurality of tire inflation units measure pressure and pressurizesimultaneously all of said tires in said first plurality of tires andsaid second plurality of tires.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein thestep of inflating a plurality of tires simultaneously comprises engaginga plurality of tire inflation units with multiple sets of tires so as tomeasure pressure and pressurize said multiple sets of tiressimultaneously.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein each set of saidmultiple sets of tires comprises multiple tires, and wherein saidplurality of tire inflation units engage with each of said multiple setsof tires to measure the pressure and pressurize each tire of saidmultiple tires simultaneously.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein saidvehicle has a radio frequency identifier and the step of identifyingsaid vehicle comprises receiving said vehicle identifying informationfrom said vehicle by said radio frequency identifier.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said vehicle is labeled with a scannable bar code andthe step of identifying said vehicle comprises receiving said vehicleidentifying information from said vehicle by scanning said scannable barcode.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising inflating aplurality of tires simultaneously.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinsaid vehicle pre-determined maintenance settings include data on tirepressure and include one or more of data on maintenance, condition orreplacement of vehicle equipment.